Guide to Spending a Weekend in Perth, Australia on a Budget

September 5, 2015
/ by Marleen Clover

Travel budgets are really tricky to manage, but with some careful planning and research, travelers will be able to make the most from their stay in any Australian city. Perth offers many attractive things to do for free or at low cost – just perfect if what you’re looking after is a nice weekend on a budget. Here are a few tips to make your trip unforgettable.

Where to stay

A large part of your weekend getaway budget usually goes to cover the accommodation. Instead of choosing a fancy boutique hotel or a central bed and breakfast, have a look at more budget-friendly options. Have a look at this page on Gumtree for instance, where users offer rooms or beds in their houses for free or for a nominal sum. You can also browse through Gumtree short term rental options. Remember that staying at a nice place isn’t really a priority – there are many interesting things to do in Perth, so expect to spend lots of time outside.

What to do

Here’s a selection of activities that will give you the feel of Perth without putting a strain on your wallet:

Surfing – one of the best things about Perth are its amazing beaches. Just hanging out at one of them makes for an amazing experience. There are several surf schools offering really cheap surfing classes, so if you’d like to hit the waves, there are lots of opportunities.

Get some culture – if you’re interested in delving into the local culture, there are no better options than the city’s cultural centre in Northbridge, which is home to the Art Gallery of Western Australia, the WA Museum, as well as the State Library–the best thing of all: entry is by gold coin donation.

Sightseeing – for all people keen on sightseeing, we’ve got good news: most of Perth’s attractions are completely free. You can have a walk at the Kings Park Botanic Gardens and Swan River – those offer a brilliant introduction to the city. Another interesting sight is the Perth Mint, where the entry ticket costs $15 for adults. You can look at the Old Mill and the Swan Bells absolutely for free, but if you’d like to climb the bell tower, it will cost you $14 for adults.

Outside the city centre – if you’d like to have a complete look at the city, head outside the city centre and prepare for lots of fun at the Perth Zoo or the Aquarium of Western Australia those are a little more expensive, but definitely a great attraction. You can reach the Zoo by bus or ferry – the entry is $21 for adults. For the Aquarium, it’s best to take a car, train or bus and the entry will cost you $28 – just make sure to count in the costs of public transport into your trip plan.

Kings ParkSwan River

Where to go on day trips

Day trips are generally costly – some spots are accessible by public transport, but others will require hiring a vehicle or even joining a tour. What is there to see around Perth? The Pinnacles Desert, Swan Valley, the Margaret River and the Rottnest Island are very popular destinations – the only thing to count in are the costs of transport here.

For instance, a full day tour to Rottnest Island, which includes a wildlife cruise, costs at least $129 per person – even if it’s expensive, the guide’s expertise makes up for it. Fremantle is also a popular destination for visitors – it’s so picturesque with its old pubs, weekend markets and cute pavement cafés. You can explore Fremantle by foot, hire a bike or use a popular free shuttle bus.

Perth is an amazing city and with so many things to do there for free, visiting it over the weekend will be definitely friendly to your wallet.

About the Author

Marleen Clover is part of the team behind Timeo. She’s a great travel lover who enjoys to travel the world solo and with her friends. When not travelling, she’s based in the UK.